I would like to take a moment to introduce you to a company called Storm 8. They design and publish massively multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPGs) for the iPhone and iPod Touch. They currently have 8 of these games out. The games are Racing Live, iMobsters, Kingdoms Live, Vampires Live, Zombies Live, Rockstars Live and World War. All eight of these game are essentially quite similar, usually with one or two minor gameplay additions and a different theme. For the purposes of this article I will review the basic framework, then review each game based on it’s unique contributions.
Basic Framework Review.
Each of these games is based on a different world. Racing Live is based on street racing, Vampires, Zombies and Ninjas Live have you playing as Vampires, Zombies and/or Ninjas. But the basic framework for each is essentially the same. You do missions to earn money (or flesh, or blood, or gold pieces) and experience. Experience increases your level, which unlocks more missions. The monetary unit will allow you to buy weapons (armor, units, spells, abilities) which will allow you to attack other players. You can also buy real estate (traps, slaves, clients) to generate passive income and compensate for the cost of some of your weapons. It is a solid framework. It is very adaptable to a variety of settings.
The only downside of the framework is the fact that it never really feels like a multiplayer game. You have a mob (clan, horde etc) of other, real players that you recruit, but other than helping you attack, and enabling you to do more missions, they really don’t do much. There is really very little reason for this game to be multiplayer at all. The other downside is that it is virtually all text based and takes very little actual skill. You will never be the best player in the world, but you will also never be the worst.
Racing Live
Racing Live is a game about street racing. You do things like drag racing and delivering packages. It is different from other games in the series in that your ‘crew’ will use your best cars and one of each car part upgrade. This was the first in the series to introduce the concept of mission experience, which gives you bonuses for completing tasks a certain number of times.
iMobsters
This game is about the Mafia. The missions are about crimes, everything from mugging to burning a police station. It probably has some of the most interesting equipment.
Kingdoms Live
This one has a generic fantasy setting. I will admit this is not my favorite because the setting has been done by so many other games.
Vampires Live and Zombies Live
One is about zombies, one is about vampires. They are unique in the fact that zombies players can attack and team up with vampires players. You could, hypothetically, attack yourself.
World War
World War is about a post-apocalyptic warzone. It is unique in the fact that it was the first game to introduce the concept of unit destruction. Your units can die in this one, and that really adds a lot.
Rockstars Live
You play as a band leader. The game adds in ‘Practice’ missions that give high experience but low pay.
Ninjas Live
Adds in the concept of limited passive income, which I think is a good idea. You can still earn way more passively than you can by doing missions.
